10-man United crashed at Wolves, Fulham relegated after Watford defeat

World
Europe

Ashley Young's needless dismissal and Chris Smalling's farcical own goal sent Manchester United crashing to a damaging 2-1 defeat against Wolves. Fulham were relegated from the Premier League as a 4-1 thrashing against Watford on Tuesday brought a fitting end to their turbulent one-season stay in the top flight.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side blew a chance to move into third place in the Premier League as they squandered the lead in a disappointing display at Molineux.

United remain fifth, but their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-four finish will be further dented if Tottenham and Chelsea win on Wednesday.

It was a frustrating night for Solskjaer, who saw United suffer a third defeat in their last four games – underlining how much work the Norwegian still has in front of him following his appointment as permanent manager last week.

Scott McTominay's first goal for United was negated by Diogo Jota before the interval, but the game's turning point proved to be a second yellow card collected by Young with just 57 minutes gone.

United finally caved to Wolves' pressure 20 minutes later, when Raul Jimenez rose above Phil Jones and headed a Joao Moutinho cross goalwards.

Leander Dendoncker (2nd, L) of Wolves scores their 2nd goal during their Premier League match against Manchester United on April 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

The awkward attempt saw Smalling and goalkeeper David de Gea become entangled, with the former making the final touch as the ball rolled over the line.

McTominay's memorable first ever goal in professional football had come after just 13 minutes and a solid, controlled start by Solskjaer's team.

A patient left-wing build-up ended with Jesse Lingard playing the ball centrally to Fred, with the Brazilian quickly moving it sideways to Scotland international McTominay.

The 22-year-old unleashed a brilliant, right-foot finish from 25 yards that beat the diving Rui Patricio and nestled in the far left-hand corner.

It might have been an even healthier position a few moments later, but Romelu Lukaku impeded McTominay as his team-mate lined up another shot from similar range.

But with Wolves' defense looking curiously disorganized, there was still an opportunity for Lukaku to chip in a dangerous center for Lingard, whose close-range header was pawed away to safety by Patricio.

Man United's Ashley Young #18 was sent off in the 57th minute for two yellow-card offenses after he twice fouled Diogo Jota of Wolves in a five-minute spell. /VCG Photo

Solskjaer admitted Manchester United have no further margin for error in their bid to secure a top-four finish.

"I said we need 15 points from our last seven games and now we need 15 from our last six.

"It's difficult but then again, we're a very good team and it's going to be difficult for anybody who plays against us.

"This was a tough game but a performance that deserved a win."

'Serious issues for Fulham'

Scott Parker's side had to avoid defeat at Vicarage Road to stave off their inevitable demise for a few more days.

But second-bottom Fulham, 16 points from safety with five games remaining, slumped to a ninth successive loss that confirmed their relegation to the Championship.

Abdoulaye Doucoure put Watford ahead in the 23rd minute before Ryan Babel's equalizer 10 minutes later briefly gave Fulham hope.

Fulham's fate was sealed in the second half when Will Hughes, Troy Deeney and Kiko Femenia all netted for Javi Gracia's men in the space of 12 minutes.

"Obviously bitterly disappointed, devastated for the football club and fans," Parker said.

"We always knew it was a tough ask. It's the way we lost the game which was most disappointing for me.

"The five or 10-minute spell from 2-1 onwards, that was our season in a snapshot.

"We played some nice bits at times, but at the end of the day you are where you are."

Fulham have conceded 76 goals this season and won only two points away from home. /VCG Photo

On Saturday, bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield became only the second team after Derby in 2008 to be relegated from the Premier League in March with six games left.

Three days later, Fulham followed Huddersfield through the trapdoor in what ranks as the third earliest relegation in the Premier League era.

"When a club gets relegated you know there are some serious issues. I have ideas, but it's not the time to broadcast it," Parker said.

"The team owe it to the football club and fans to go out in the last five games and give something back, although it'll be very little. The next five games, we will crack on."

Fulham have lost all five matches under caretaker manager Parker, but they were already destined for relegation long before he took over as the club's third boss this term.

Slavisa Jokanovic was sacked in November as Fulham owner Shahid Khan tried to lift his team out of their wretched run.

Source(s): AFP